I have been reading in 1 Corinthians. In reading 1 Corinthians 11, I came across a phrase that has not been able to leave my mind. 1 Corinthians 11:17 talks about how we come together as the body of Christ. In other words, how do we gather together? Do we bring out the best in each other or the worst in each other? That is what Paul is warning the church of Corinth in 1 Corinthians 11:17, " Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse." What do you think of when you think of a GATHERING?
I love people so, I think "I enjoy working with people and for people. I gather together with some of the greatest co-workers that have the biggest hearts to help shape little hearts 5 days out of the week. I love to gather with my family and friends. I love my family! I look forward to being with my family at the end of each day. I enjoy getting my family together for dinner, travel, games, church, etc. I am hopeful that it is a joyful occasion when I get to sit, eat, and visit with people that I love and consider my family or friends. I am hopeful it is time well spent together. It should be a time of unification of hearts and minds. I love my church and my church family! I look forward to gathering together each Wednesday and Sunday to grow in the Lord and connection with others. I enjoy listening to sermons and hearing the Word of God with people. I love to gather with others to sing unto the Lord and minister to others. I like coming together with others to be a part of something bigger than myself.
To do that, I must GATHER, but how does the Lord want me to gather?" Is it always this way? No. Some days, people do not bring out the best in each other. Some days, I fail miserably. I do not bring out the best in others and they do not bring out the best in me. To be transparent, if I am upset about something, my first instinct/reaction is to withdraw from people and the situation. There have been moments where I have had to put myself in a time out to think, pray, and redirect myself. I have to think "Do I bring out the worst in others?" and "What am I doing to make this situation better or worse?" Paul is trying to tell us to be intentional in our relationships. He is warning us that it is not good when come together and bring out the worst in one another. Pick your battles. Is that comment really necessary? Is now the right time to talk about this? Am I speaking with the right spirit? Am I bringing people down or am I helping them in this situation? Remember that it is not pleasing that we do not try and make life better for one another! It does not matter if it is our spouses, children, family, friends, co-workers, church members, etc. Often times, the ones we love most are the ones that get the brunt of our frustrations, anger, hurt, and dismay. We say things in the heat of the moment that we will more than likely regret. We do things because emotions are high! They do not receive our best because we are struggling within ourselves. They do not get our best reaction because we are fighting personal battles within ourselves. We should bring out the best in each other in every circumstance/season of life. I have learned this the hard way. There was a time where I did not hold my tongue and my reaction to a situation caused more harm than good. It hurt the relationship. It made gatherings awkward and uneasy. You see, I struggle within myself a good bit. I have stated earlier in another blog that I feel like a failure as a parent most days. The stresses and chaos of life get me down. I have to ask myself quite often, what am I doing? Did I handle this properly? Did I say the right things? Did I do the right thing? Did I just cause more harm than good? I think I say this in each blog, but life is tough! We all face things each day that have potential to harm, hurt, and distract us from what God is calling us to do and be who God is calling us to be. We cannot go at life alone. There is power in numbers! From childhood, we are taught that two minds are better than one. The Bible teaches in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ,"Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken." We all need God as the center and source of our lives. Even if we had no one else, He would be enough. When we are weak, He is strong! 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." Life is even better when we are blessed with a parent, friend, support group, and church family that we can GATHER with and will love us through the difficult, hard times. We all desire a non-judgmental, Godly person that can offer words of wisdom, support, encouragement, and counsel in the circumstances of life. God is calling us to edify and help one another when we GATHER. We gather under some of the worst circumstances. Everyone is facing some giant. Everyone is fighting something! Why do we add to the factors of life with our words and actions? Ephesians 4:29 educates us to"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." The word "edify" from Dictionary.com means instruct or improve (someone) morally or intellectually. In other words, when we GATHER, speak life. Proverbs 15:4 warns us "A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit." Proverbs 18:21 tells us "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." Will there be issues? Will people be human toward me? Will you be human toward people? Will I be human toward people and vice versa? Yes! Yes! Yes! And yes! However, GATHER together with the best intentions within your relationships. Stay aware of God, self, and others when GATHERING. When issues arise and life happens, pause, reflect, forgive, speak life, and GATHER to the best of your ability on how God desires it to be done. When you come together with your loved ones this evening, bless them with a smile, hug, and gentle words. Let them know how much you love them and how they are a blessing to you in actions and words. Try to make their day brighter in some way. When you walk into church tomorrow, remember that it is not all about you. Make sure you are bringing out the best in people with words and actions. You may be going through something, but someone else is going through something too. Remember that we are all fighting something in this life. Someone will need your smile, hand shake, and kind words. If you see someone down, try to lift them up. If you feel alone, find someone who can pray with you. When you go to work Monday, go in with a mindset of making the world a better place. It starts with me! It starts with you! It starts with us GATHERING. Matthew 18:20 says "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Let There Be A Gathering of Godly people gathering in the way that God desires. In Jesus Name!
Quote:
Our power as individuals is multiplied when we gather together as families, teams, and communities with common goals. - Susan Scott
Prayer: Let there be a Godly gathering among us, Lord. Help us to bring out the best in each other each day. Help us to create an atmosphere in our hearts and homes where you can move and minister. Help us to lay our issues that weigh us down at your feet. Help us to lay them on the altar and not pick them back up. Help us to stay aware and alert of the attacks and distractions of the enemy. Help us to forgive those that have said or done things that have hurt us. Help us to forgive ourselves for being human and allowing human moments of weakness where we say or do things that should not be said or done. Forgive us of sins of omission and sins of commission. Help us to do better, to be better, and to be more like you, in Jesus Name! Let us work together for the common goal, HEAVEN! Prepare us for your coming and your kingdom. Help us to remember that we are the church. The church is not a building, it is your people! Help us to speak words of encouragement and to speak life into the circumstances we face. Help us to lift one another up and to not tear down. Provide Godly people that can help/mentor us to reach new heights and deeper levels in you. Help us to do what you have called us to do and be who you have called us to be in GATHERING, in Jesus Name!
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